🌱 PAC Money + Alabama Hoops + Northport School System?

Up and at 'em, Tuscaloosa! Grab the coffee and let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today.

In today's Daily, we have these stories and more ...

• PAC money floods local races for Legislature.
• Update on fatal shooting near Tuscaloosa club.
• An op-ed on proposed Northport school district

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First, today's weather: Plenty of sunshine. High: 57 Low: 32.

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🗣Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Patch Shout Out for this Sunday morning goes to 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, who took home college football's highest honor Saturday night. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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🗞 Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa 🗞

1. A 30-year-old man has been identified as the victim in a fatal shooting early Saturday morning following an altercation at a Tuscaloosa bar. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. As the upcoming 2022 primary season approaches, in addition to the Jan. 28, 2022 qualifying deadline, Tuscaloosa Patch took a close look at each local candidate's campaign filings to see just where the largest share of special interest and PAC money is coming from. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. No. 9 Alabama men's basketball (8-1) won a 83-82 thriller over No. 14 Houston in a late-night showdown at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa Saturday. (More)
4. The student newspaper at the University of Alabama reports that a sorority member sent a racist text in a private group message with some of her sorority sisters, including Alpha Phi's then-president. (Ainsley Platt, Crimson White)
5. SUNDAY LONG READ: Here's an op-ed I wrote over the weekend following news that the Northport City Council is primed for the next steps toward breaking away from the Tuscaloosa County School System to form its own city school district. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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📉 Number of the Day 📈

$121,250

The total amount in contributions from political action committees (PACs) to candidates in four Tuscaloosa County races for the House of Representatives and a current three-person race for the Alabama senate. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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✏️ Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook ✏️

Shelton State Community College this week named Jackson Gaido as the new coach of the school's Esports team. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The FWAA announced Friday that Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., offensive lineman Evan Neal and quarterback Bryce Young received Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America First Team nods, while kick returner Jameson Williams earned second team honors. (More)

Stillman College women's basketball (5-5) put an end to its five-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 70-61 Southern States Athletic Conference victory over Brewton-Parker College. (More)

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🏆 Patch Honors 🏆

Myrtlewood Elementary School counselor Holly Tanner was recently named as the recipient of the Elbert K. Fretwell Service Award presented by the Black Warrior Council of the Boy Scouts of America for being a great example to students and teaching students to make good choices.

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👨‍💻 Other stories I'm reading today 👨‍💻

- UA receives $4 million to establish a National Center on Forensics (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)

- Tuscaloosa businesses especially short on workers for holidays (Whitney Leibold, WVUA 23)

- Hubbard in calls described hopes of early release (Kim Chandler, Associated Press)

- UAB cancer center nabs slice of $1.2M investment (Joshua Mann, Birmingham Business Journal)

- Jefferson County Judge removed from the bench effectively immediately (Jennifer Horton, WBRC Fox 6 News)

- Alabama Farmers Federation updates governmental affairs leadership (Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News)

- Three people hurt at gate to Air Force base in Montgomery (Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser)

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🏀 Tuscaloosa Patch Scoreboard (Saturday, Dec. 11) 🏀

Men's College Basketball

Alabama 83, Houston 82

Women's College Basketball

Stillman 70, Brewton-Parker 61

Boys Varsity Basketball

Meadow Creek 70, Sipsey Valley 50

Tabernacle 70, Tuscaloosa Home Educators 66

Winfield 72, Section 51

Girls Varsity Basketball

Homewood 58, Paul W. Bryant 43

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— RP